%0 Journal Article %A Gupta, Ajay %A Mathie, Richard %A Markides, Christos N. %D 2014 %I Begell House %K domestic hot water, latent heat, phase change material, salt hydrate, thermal energy storage %N 4 %P 341-359 %R 10.1615/.2014011117 %T AN EXPERIMENTAL AND COMPUTATIONAL INVESTIGATION OF A THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEM BASED ON A PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL: HEAT TRANSFER AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERIZATION %U https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/648192910890cd0e,79df49661eac26ec,0f9d71312dc65546.html %V 6 %X The integration of latent heat storage solutions into modern heating and cooling systems has the potential to enhance overall system performance compared to standard hot water systems (radiators and tanks) due to an augmentation of the stored heat by the latent heat of a suitable material. This paper presents computational predictions complemented by experimental measurements of the dynamic behavior and performance of an active thermal storage system for domestic applications, based on the use of a hydrated salt phase change material (PCM) and a conventional cylindrical storage tank. The thermal storage (heating) and extraction (cooling) rates for this PCM-filled tank are compared to a water-filled tank. Flow and temperature fields are analyzed in a customized storage tank design for heat transfer and performance characterization. Experimental findings show good agreement with full 3-D simulation results. The heat removal characteristic is identified as being the main factor limiting the arrangement's performance when compared to a water-based system, due to the solidification of the PCM onto the pipes, and a significant consequent decrease in heat flux. It is confirmed that the PCM thermal storage solution has the capability to store a large amount of heat effectively, but design improvements are required to eliminate the cooling-limited heat transfer process in the investigated arrangement. %8 2014-10-29